USRF Name Eight 2010 Kevin Higgins College Scholarship Winners

San Diego, CA (November 3, 2010) – The USRF has announced the winners of the 2010 Kevin Higgins College Scholarships. The $1,000 scholarships, named in honor of one of the all-time great U.S. centers, Kevin Higgins, (pictured), are awarded to graduating high school seniors who have gone on to continue their education and rugby at the collegiate level.This year’s recipients are:Taylor Johnson has always excelled scholastically. She was the 2010 class valedictorian at View Park Prep High in Los Angeles, CA graduating with a 4.1 GPA. She’s been playing the game for six years and has taken part in rugby tours to New Zealand and Hong Kong. From inner city Los Angeles to Dartmouth College, Taylor continues to excel. Read more about Taylor Johnson.Pat Coleman is a big, physical second row who has played a major role in keeping Xavier High School at or near the top of the list of rugby playing high schools in the country. But the US Rugby U17 and High School All-American team captain is more than just a talented rugby player.Read more about Pat Coleman.Couryn Beleck is a motivated and dedicated student who graduated with a 4.0 GPA. She was a member of both the National Honor Society and the French Honor Society, while being vice-president of the Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society. She’s also one of the best backs in Midwest Collegiate Division One rugby…as a freshman.Read more about Couryn Beleck.Mary Jo Reddy was named the Best High School Female Forward in the State of Ohio in her first year of playing the sport. She led her high school team to the school’s only State title in its over 100 year existence. She’s captained the Ohio Elite U19 team the only two years she’s played the game. She’s an honor student and never missed a day of high school.Read more about Mary Jo Reddy. Isiah Willis has had to face many challenges while growing up in the inner city of Washington, DCbut he has continued to meet every challenge head on and despite his hardships, he has always been an example to those around him, both on and off the rugby field. He’s a gifted player, a powerful leader and an inspiration to many.Read more about Isiah Willis.Frank Viancourt was a talented high school athlete who turned down football and wrestling scholarships because of his passion for the sport of rugby. A true leader, Frank captained all three of his sport’s teams in high school. But sports is just a small part of the make up of this young man.Read more about Frank Viancourt.Ben Roach is not only a talented rugby player but he was also one of his high school rugby team’s best recruiters and promoters. He finds almost as much joy in scoring tries as he does in helping those less fortunate. The strong work ethic that served him so well in high school is now doing the same for him in college. Read more about Ben Roach.Eric Mallory was introduced to the sport of rugby by an uncle who played. When he found out one of his teachers was a rugby coach, he decided to give it a go himself and he has never turned back. He’s a passionate ambassador of the sport and his likeable personality, honest demeanor and fierce loyalty make him a favorite to his teammates.Read more about Eric Mallory.“Selecting the Kevin Higgins Scholarship recipients continues to be a difficult task for the Scholarship Committee,” said USRF Executive Director Brian Vizard. “Every application we receive is from a deserving young man or woman and all of them would be worthy of receiving Higgy Awards. Not much separated those that were selected and those that missed out.”The USRF would like to congratulate its 2010 recipients of the Kevin Higgins College Scholarships and thank all those who applied.San Diego, CA (November 3, 2010) – The USRF has announced the winners of the 2010 Kevin Higgins College Scholarships. The $1,000 scholarships, named in honor of one of the all-time great U.S. centers, Kevin Higgins, (pictured), are awarded to graduating high school seniors who have gone on to continue their education and rugby at the collegiate level.This year’s recipients are:Taylor Johnson has always excelled scholastically. She was the 2010 class valedictorian at View Park Prep High in Los Angeles, CA graduating with a 4.1 GPA. She’s been playing the game for six years and has taken part in rugby tours to New Zealand and Hong Kong. From inner city Los Angeles to Dartmouth College, Taylor continues to excel. Read more about Taylor Johnson.Pat Coleman is a big, physical second row who has played a major role in keeping Xavier High School at or near the top of the list of rugby playing high schools in the country. But the US Rugby U17 and High School All-American team captain is more than just a talented rugby player.Read more about Pat Coleman.Couryn Beleck is a motivated and dedicated student who graduated with a 4.0 GPA. She was a member of both the National Honor Society and the French Honor Society, while being vice-president of the Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society. She’s also one of the best backs in Midwest Collegiate Division One rugby…as a freshman.Read more about Couryn Beleck.Mary Jo Reddy was named the Best High School Female Forward in the State of Ohio in her first year of playing the sport. She led her high school team to the school’s only State title in its over 100 year existence. She’s captained the Ohio Elite U19 team the only two years she’s played the game. She’s an honor student and never missed a day of high school.Read more about Mary Jo Reddy. Isiah Willis has had to face many challenges while growing up in the inner city of Washington, DCbut he has continued to meet every challenge head on and despite his hardships, he has always been an example to those around him, both on and off the rugby field. He’s a gifted player, a powerful leader and an inspiration to many.Read more about Isiah Willis.Frank Viancourt was a talented high school athlete who turned down football and wrestling scholarships because of his passion for the sport of rugby. A true leader, Frank captained all three of his sport’s teams in high school. But sports is just a small part of the make up of this young man.Read more about Frank Viancourt.Ben Roach is not only a talented rugby player but he was also one of his high school rugby team’s best recruiters and promoters. He finds almost as much joy in scoring tries as he does in helping those less fortunate. The strong work ethic that served him so well in high school is now doing the same for him in college. Read more about Ben Roach.Eric Mallory was introduced to the sport of rugby by an uncle who played. When he found out one of his teachers was a rugby coach, he decided to give it a go himself and he has never turned back. He’s a passionate ambassador of the sport and his likeable personality, honest demeanor and fierce loyalty make him a favorite to his teammates.Read more about Eric Mallory.“Selecting the Kevin Higgins Scholarship recipients continues to be a difficult task for the Scholarship Committee,” said USRF Executive Director Brian Vizard. “Every application we receive is from a deserving young man or woman and all of them would be worthy of receiving Higgy Awards. Not much separated those that were selected and those that missed out.”The USRF would like to congratulate its 2010 recipients of the Kevin Higgins College Scholarships and thank all those who applied.